Baby-Boomers and Weight Training

Baby-Boomers and Weight Training

The number of baby boomers is growing in leaps and bounds, and more than any other demographic, this population realizes the importance of staying healthy. As baby boomers age, regular strength training is the key to improving joint flexibility, reducing the risk, hopefully postponing the development of arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease or diabetes.

In terms of weight loss, sadly, low calorie diets alone don’t work – they merely punish the soul and cause metabolism to plummet. That’s not what you want – you want to raise your metabolism. For baby boomers this is particularly important, as strength training raises your metabolism and helps you to avoid the metabolic sluggishness that often plagues people who are over 50.

Here are eight reasons for Baby Boomers … and beyond to start strength training:

Improve weight maintenance. Strength training is crucial to weight control. People who have more muscle mass have a higher metabolic rate. When you’re asleep, fat burns at a rate of five calories an hour and muscle burns around 50. This is an excellent reason to increase lean muscle mass.

  • Prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects older women AND men. Studies indicate     strength training increases bone density and may reduce the risk of fractures among women aged 50-70.
  • Risk of diabetes. Lean muscle tissue helps the body to metabolize blood sugar, which lowers the risk of late onset diabetes.
  • Ease arthritic symptoms. Strength training can reduce pain by strengthening     muscles that protect joints and can also extend the range of motion in some joints.
  • Increase muscle mass / endurance. More lean muscle mass means everyday tasks are     easier, endurance is greater, and there’s more energy at

Testimonial from Ironman Athlete Michael Loerhke

Testimonial from Ironman Athlete Michael Loerhke

Hadley Allen is the consummate professional whose knowledge of her craft is surpassed only by her passion and tireless desire to help her clients achieve all their fitness goals.  I’ve been an active runner and triathlete for over 10 years and have always been comfortable in all three phases of the sport. But nagging injuries, and constant soreness, fatigue and inadequate core strength seemed to limit my performance.

It wasn’t til I started working with Hadley that I realized how much I needed her functional strength regimen to overcome my deficiencies.  I’ve been working with Hadley multiple times a week for almost 10 months and she definitely made a difference in all three elements of triathlon: improved mechanics and efficiency on the swim, increased power output on the bike and faster run splits.

More importantly, her training has given me the added strength and flexibility to avoid the injuries and fatigue that always came during the grueling hours of mid-season triathlon training. As a time constrained Ironman triathlete I have many training needs and not a lot of time.  Hadley always knows exactly what I need and is able to deliver it every day. There aren’t enough hours in my day to accommodate much activity outside the standard swim, bike run workouts, but I now consider Hadley’s functional strength training an irreplaceable part of my weekly routine.

Aside from actually completing my triathlons for me, she’s given me all the tools to succeed…..hopefully in Kona some day!

Michael Loerhke

37 years old completed over 4 ironman events.